Ounasvaara nature trail

The beginning of the nature trail comprises many spruce-dominant forests. Photo: AT

The wettest points of the nature trail have duckboards. Photo: AT

The nature trail is marked in terrain with posts and cone symbols. In addition to the cone symbol, the winter trail symbol marks part of the trail. Photo: AT

There are clear information boards along the nature trail. Photo: AT

There is a lean-to along the nature trail on the southern edge of Ounasvaara Hill. The lean-to comprises a campfire site and a woodshed in the vicinity. Photo: AT

The nature trail passes through some rocky terrain. Photo: AT

There are magnificent rocks along the nature trail after the lean-to. Photo: AT

The great spotted woodpecker feeding along the nature trail. Photo: AT

When climbing up, the nature trail terrain turns more barren. Photo: AT

The nature trail climbs up to rocks on top of Ounasvaara Hill. Photo: AT

Rocks of Ounasvaara are ideal for taking a break and admiring riverside scenery. Photo: AT

At the rocks of Ounasvaara Hill, nature is barren yet beautiful. Photo: AT

There is a small section of ancient shore along the nature trail, which is also called a ‘devil’s field’. Photo: AT

Towards the end, the nature trail passes through a lush spruce forest. Photo: AT

Ounasvaara nature trail

The Ounasvaara Nature Trail is 2.9 km east of the city centre of Rovaniemi. It is an ideal day-trip destination because of its easy accessibility. Ounasvaara, or Ounas Hill, is not only a famous sports centre but also a year-round recreation area right by the city centre, with marked and maintained trails and several great vantage points. Ounasvaara offers the opportunity to practise almost 50 different sports, and the selection keeps growing. In the winter, Ounasvaara is a great destination, for example, to downhill or cross-country ski, to speed down the toboggan track, or go snowshoeing. In the summer, Ounasvaara offers a great setting for hiking and golf, not to mention the thrilling summer bobsleigh track. SantaSport – Lapland Sports Academy, on the hillside of Ounasvaara, is a true centre of sports and well-being.

The Ounasvaara Nature Trail goes around the southern edge of the hill eastward to a lean-to. At the start, the trail passes through herb-rich forests and a wetland area. After the lean-to, it climbs over outcrops and dry pine forests to the northern side of the hill, where there is a vantage point with fantastic views over Saarenkylä and the Kemi River. The trail continues along the shore of an ancient lake. Then it turns downwards via dry pine forests to the starting point. Traces of the previous ice age are clearly visible in the grooves on the rocks and outcrops along the trail and in the shore rocks of the ancient lake. Information boards introduce northern forest and bog types, wood species, plants, bedrock and ground, as well as the history of Rovaniemi.

The difference in altitude of the trail is 45 m. However, there are no steep climbs, only around 10 degrees. Here and there, the trail is rocky and covered by roots. Wet spots have duckboards. You can also take a 600 m shorter route by cutting past the additional loop before the lean-to. The trail is well-suited for hiking and Nordic walking. The circular trail is 4.4 km long, ideal for day hiking. The difficulty level is medium.

There is a log-built lean-to along the trail under some high cliffs, with a campfire site and a woodshed. There is a clear, bubbling spring 100 m down to the left from the lean-to.

Directions: drive 1.1 km out of the city centre of Rovaniemi along Kajaanintie; turn left on Ounasrinteentie; drive 350 m; turn left on Hiihtomajantie; drive 850 m; turn right into the parking area (100 m), where the nature trail begins. There is a regular daily bus connection to Ounasrinne. The Sports Academy bus stop is around 1 km from the parking area via Hiihtomajantie. The trail is open in the snow-free season, from May to October. Despite the duckboards, rubber boots are recommended in the spring and fall. When walking on bare outcrops, always remember that they are slippery when it rains.

Nearby destinations

Mountain Biking Trail, marked in the terrain with paint. Riding time 1.5-2.5 hours. The trail is technical and features significant differences in altitude. You can embark on the trail from the Ounasvaara Ski Centre, Santasport, or the Ounasvaara side of the Jätkänkynttilä Bridge...

The railway from Rovaniemi to Kemijärvi was completed in 1934. On the first part of the route, large and expensive bridges needed to be built, such as the Ounaskoski bridge. The old bridge in the photograph was used only for about 10 years, because the German troops blew it up when withdrawing from Lapland in October 1944. The current bridge was completed in 1951...

The Konttinen Manor depicted from across River Kemijoki. The Konttinen Manor was commissioned by Norwegian timber businessman Terje Olsen in late 19th century. As of 1900, the manor housed the forest division of the Kemi company operating in the wood processing industry. The building was destroyed in the air raids of Rovaniemi in 1940...

Shopkeeper A. E. Tuisku had a shop along Maantiekatu and a house on the shore of River Kemijoki. Tuisku being a local force served as a municipal foreman in municipal administration in 1897–1899 and as the foreman of the municipal board in 1912...

Before the war, the Tornio porter and beer factory operated in Rovaniemi along the current Koskikatu street. The factory building was completely destroyed in the war. After the war, the company considered transferring all beer manufacturing operations to Rovaniemi, but the new town plan did not allow for the factory site to be expanded. The factory was, however, rebuilt at the previous site and operated until 1972...

The bridges crossing River Kemijoki were destroyed in the Second World War. A temporary trestle bridge was constructed every spring between 1946 and 1951 after the ice had broken at the site of the current Jätkänkynttilä Bridge. For a few winters, the Kemijärvi trains crossed the river on rails that were installed on the ice. A ferry boat also crossed the rivers Kemijoki and Ounasjoki...

The log floating on River Kemijoki began in the 1860s. Felling usually ended in March and then the logs were stored upstream, marked and measured. In the spring, the logs were debarked and, once the river had thawed, the floating of the logs along rivers to steam sawmills of the south began. The fall log floating started after salmon fishing ended on 15 August...

The nearest point of the Ounasvaara Winter Trail is 1.6 km east of the Rovaniemi city centre. Ounasvaara, or Ounas Hill, is an ideal day-trip destination because of its easy accessibility. It is not only a famous sports centre but also a year-round recreation area near the city centre of Rovaniemi with marked and maintained trails and several great vantage points. At Ounasvaara, you can practise almost 50 different sports, and the selection keeps growing...

The Ounasvaara Nature Trail lean-to is 3.8 km east of Rovaniemi, along the nature trail on the southern edge of the Ounasvaara hill. The log-built lean-to is below massive outcrops, featuring a campfire site and woodshed. There is a clear, bubbling spring around 100 m down to the left from the lean-to. In the winter, you can access the lean-to from the same place along a marked winter trail, or by snowshoe through the forest...

The Ounasvaara Observation Tower Lean-to is 2.2 km east of Rovaniemi, on the western hillside of Ounasvaara, near the SantaSport Institute. The log-built lean-to features a campfire site and woodshed. It stands on a rocky hillside next to the observation tower, which offers magnificent views over the city and the Kemi River...

The Kukanniemi Lean-to is 2 km south-east of the Rovaniemi city centre on Ranuantie before the Local History Museum in Pyökkölä. The log-built lean-to is next to the parking area on the bank of the Kemi River, featuring a campfire site and firewood, as well as a boat ramp nearby...

The Jyrhämänkuja Lean-to is in the city centre of Rovaniemi behind the health centre in Sairaalanniemi. The log-built lean-to is on a spit in the bank of the Kemi River, featuring a campfire site, firewood and benches. You can reach the Jyrhämänkuja parking area by car. The path to the lean-to is 100 m...

The Ounasvaara Observation Tower is 2.2 km east of the city centre of Rovaniemi, on the western slope of Ounasvaara. The massive tower stands on the rocky hillside of Ounasvaara, amidst a pine forest along the Ounasvaara Winter Trail, at 160 m above sea level. You can access the observation deck via stairs and an intermediate platform. The tower has a roof, and it offers magnificent views over the city centre and the Kemi River...